ELAC men’s soccer moves into first place

PASADENA, CA — The East Los Angeles men’s soccer team took a step towards a South Coast Conference title with a 3-1 in at Pasadena City College.

With the win at Robinson Stadium, the Huskies, 6-1-4 overall and 2-1 in the SCC, took over first place.

Mt. San Antonio College (8-1-2, 1-0-1) is a half-game behind ELAC and a half game in front of Rio Hondo College (7-2-2, 1-1-1), who is in third place.

Pasadena (2-3-3, 0-1-1) is tied with Chaffey College for last place in the standings (5-3-2, 0-1-1), but each are only a game out of first.

The Huskies scored the first two goals in the Pasadena game in the first 14 minutes, two minutes apart.

Sophomore forward Valentin Mercado (Animo Ralph Bunche High School) scored in the 12th minute, a one timer off a corner flick (assist) from sophomore midfielder Edward Robles (Wallis Annenberg HS).

It is Mercado’s sixth goal of the season, which is the 20th-best in the CCCAA from more than 1,000 statewide players.

Freshman forward Salvador Alvarez (Locke HS) scored two minutes later from a header on the left side off a right-side corner kick (assist) from Robles.

“It was a corner from the right side,” said Alvarez. “Alex Robles crossed the ball to the far side and I went around my defender and (headed) the ball back to the first post and in.”

In the 55th minute the Huskies made it 3-0 from sophomore midfielder William Morse’s (Fremont HS) third netter of the season, a cross from Robles, which Morse lined from 24 yards.

It was Robles’ third assist of the game and a team-high ninth overall this season, fourth best in the state.

Pasadena City avoided a shutout in the 89th minute from a freshman forward Anthony Jimenez (Cathedral HS) rebound blast in the box, off a blocked send in by freshman forward Thomas Flora.

Two Huskies took six of ELAC’s 13 shot attempts, three each from freshman midfielder Jerson Maravilla (Fremont HS) and Morse.

Pasadena City had a 19-13 lead in shot attempts, including an 8-5 edge in shots on goal.

“We put away opportunities we had today and that’s what matters,” said Morse.

ELAC freshman goalkeeper Luis Angel Alvarez (Aspire Ollin HS) had a season-high seven saves in the win.

Alvarez has 19 total saves at the mid-season point.

In other SCC action today, Rio Hondo and Mt. SAC played to a 1-all draw.

The draw comes four days after Mt. SAC beat the No. 1 team in the nation (NJCAA Division III Poll) and defending National Champion Richland College 1-0 in double overtime in Dallas, which shows how difficult the SCC is this year.

The Huskies put first place on the line when they host a tough, dangerous Chaffey College on Friday, Oct. 6 at 2 p.m.

Follow ELAC Athletics at http://athletics.elac.edu/landing/index and ELAC Huskies Athletics on Facebook.

story submitted by Tadzio Garcia